Snap on brace for louver blades



June 11, 1968 G. w. MINDS, JR 3,387,552

SNAP ON BRACE FOR LOUVER BLADES Filed oct. 24, 1966 l '|e.4. |='|e.5.

INVENTOR.

GEORGE W., MINDS JR.

ATTORNEKS United States Patent s,3s7,ssz SNAP ON BRACE FUR LOUVER BLAIIES George W. Minds, In, 2408 Forney St, Los Angeles, Calif. 90031 Filed Get. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 588,839 3 Claims. (Cl. 98-121) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A brace for supporting elongated louver lblades intermediate their ends is provided in the form of first and second leg portions defining generally an L-shape and including flanges at the ends of the legs for engaging suitable recesses and grooves respectively formed in the louver blade itself. The arrangement is such that intermediate portions of the louver blade may be snapped onto the brace by inserting the top edge portion into the upper flange structure of the one leg of the brace and then pivoting the louver blade downwardly so that a groove portion formed on the under side of the blade receives the second flange structure on the end of the second leg.

This invention relates generally to louvers and more particularly to improved means for supporting louver blades when disposed across windows, ventilating openings and the like on building structures.

In normal construction the blades of a louver assembly are mounted between vertical jambs which support the blades in vertically spaced horizontal relation. It is not uncommon that the blades be twenty or thirty or more feet long. The blades are usually formed of extruded aluminum, or in some instances of sheet metal, and are relatively thin in cross section. Accordingly, the blades are inherently flexible such that when disposed across spans of the above-mentioned lengths, the blades are subject to bending and warping due to wind and other forces.

With the foregoing in mind, it is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide means for supporting louver blades intermediate their ends, with the result that the blades may be disposed across relatively long spans without damage or displacement by wind or other forces.

More particularly, it is an object to provide an improved and simplified brace adapted to secure louver blades to a building or other structure spanned by the louver assembly.

Another object, in accordance with the preceding object, is to provide a brace for louver blades which is characterised by ease of attachment to the louver blades, to the end that the blades may be installed and supported with a minimum of difliculty and expense.

Another object is to provide a brace for louver blades which permits a louver blade to be quickly and easily detached therefrom with the result that the blades may be replaced if necessary with a minimum of time and expense.

Still another object is to provide a brace for louver blades which may be attached to the louver blade prior to securing the brace to a supporting structure, or to which a blade may be secured after the brace is mounted on the supporting structure.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of the invention are attained by providing a louver structure including at least one blade having an out-turned flange extending lengthwise of the blade and forming a top longitudinal edge thereof. The underside of the blade in one embodiment includes a rib extending lengthwise thereof and defining a downwardly opening groove.

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In a second embodiment, the blade may include one or more tabs bent downwardly from the blade which serve the same purpose as the above-mentioned rib, as will be described.

The invention further includes a brace having first and second angularly related leg portions, with the first leg portion being adapted for attachment to the building or other structure spanned by the louver structure. The first leg portion terminates at an upper end in flange means for releasably receiving the out-turned flange on the blade. The second leg portion terminates at an outer end in an upwardly extending flange adapted to releasably engage the rib in one embodiment or the tab in the second embodiment.

The manner in which the louver blade may be attached to and detached from the brace will become apparent as the description proceeds.

A better understanding of the invention will now be had by referring to preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a louver structure embodying the brace in accondance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in cross section, of a louver blade and the brace of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in cross section, of a louver blade in a modified embodiment;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken in the direction of arrow 4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 illustrating the blade in a position to be connected to or disconnected from the brace.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, there is shown a portion of a louver structure which includes a pair of vertical jambs 1t) and 11 interconnected by a bottom sill member 12 which defines a channel structure 13 for mounting within an opening to be covered or spanned by the louver structure in the conventional manner. The louver structure includes a plurality of louver blades 14 extending between the jambs 1i) and 11 in vertically spaced horizontal relation. The blades 14 may be secured to the jambs by any means known in the art.

In a situation wherein the louver structure is to be mounted within a relatively long opening, and in accordance with the invention, a brace 15 is shown mounted on a supporting member 16 for securing the topmost blade 14. The member 16 may constitute a window frame or jamb or a vertical portion of the building structure on which the louver structure is mounted. v

As more clearly shown in FIGURE 2, a typical one of the louver blades 14 includes an inclined web portion 17 having upper and lower flanges or panels 18 and 19 respectively, which are disposed generally parallel to each other. The upper flange 18 terminates in an out-turned flange 20 and the lower flange 19 terminates in an inturned flange 21, the flanges 20 and 21 being generally parallel and extending lengthwise of the blade 14.

The brace 15 includes a first upwardly extending leg portion 22 and a second outwardly extending leg portion 23. The first leg portion 22 is adapted to be secured to the supporting member 16 by screws 24 or the like.

As best shown in FIGURE 4, the upwardly extending leg portion 22 terminates in means for releasably receiving the out-turned flange 20 of the blade 14(Toward that end, the upper end of the leg portion 22 includes an outturned flange 25 which terminates in a downturned flange 26, which in turn, terminates in an inturned flange 27 which is generally parallel to the out-turned flange 25. The flanges 25 and 27 are thus spaced to define an inwardly opening recess for receiving the flange 20 of the blade as shown. The leg portion 22 may have a recess 28 defined therein as shown for purposes to be described.

Refening still to FIGURE 4, the web portion 11 of the blade includes a generally downwardly extending rib 29 which extends lengthwise of the blade to define a downwardly opening groove 30 in conjunction with the underside of the web portion 11. The leg portion 23 of the brace terminates at its outer end in an upturned flange 31 which is adapted to project upwardly into the groove 30 in interlocking engagement with the rib 29. Accordingly, it will be seen that when installed as shown in FIGURE 4, the blade 14 is securely held by the brace 15.

The above-described embodiment of the louver blade lends itself particularly well to construction of extruded aluminum. When the louver blade is formed of sheet metal, a somewhat modified embodiment may be more suitable. As shown in FIGURE 3, the rib 29 is eliminated and the louver blade 14 may include a tab 32 punched from the inclined portion of the blade and then bent downwardly as shown at 33. The tab 32 may be formed in the same cross section as that of the rib 29 of the firstdescribed embodiment and will likewise define .a downwardly groove between the inclined portion of the blade and the tab.

The blade of both embodiments and the brace are adapted to be interconnected and disconnected in a simple and easy manner. As shown in FIGURE 5, when the brace 15 is mounted on the member 16, the flange 20 of the blade is simply inserted into the recess defined by the flanges 25, 26, and 27. It will be noted that the recess 28 provides sufficient area for permitting the blade to be pivoted as will be now described. The blade is then pivoted in a counterclockwise direction until the rib 29 contacts the flange 31 on the leg portion 23 of the brace. Continued downward pivoting movement causes the leg portion 23 to pivot or spring slightly downwardly as the rib 29 rides over the flange 31, whereupon the flange 31 snaps upwardly into the groove 30 in engagement with the rib 29 as shown in FIGURE 4. It will be apparent that the blade 14 may be disconnected from the brace 15 by simply reversing the steps of the above-described procedure. The rib 29 and flange 31 are sufficiently flexible to permit the leg portion 23 to be sprung or pivoted downwardly to thus release the engagement of the rib 29 and flange 31. The blade is then pivoted upwardly or in a clockwise direction sufliciently to enable the flange 20 to be withdrawn from the recess defined by the flanges 25, 26, and 27 of the brace.

It will be appreciated that a blade having the tab 32; of FIGURE 3 is mountable on the brace 15 in the same manner as above-described with respect to a blade having the continuous rib 29.

It will further be seen that the blade and brace are designed to be connectable prior to securing the brace to the member 16. Toward that end, the brace may be simply snapped onto the blade in accordance with the abovedescribed procedure and then the brace may be secured to the member 16 by means of the screws 24 in conjunction with mounting the blade within the jam-bs and 11 of FIGURE 1.

It will be understood that a separate brace may be provided for each blade of the louver structure. In normal construction the blades are positioned in vertically overlapping relation such that the flanges 25, 26, and 27 of each brace will be positioned behind the lower portion of the blade positioned immediately above. Consequently, the braces are not visible from the front of the louver structure. It will further be understood that several braces can be disposed along the length of each blade if conditions so require. In the latter case, if the blade of FIGURE 3 is utilized, a number of tabs 32 will be formed on the blade corresponding to the number and position of the braces.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides a simple and effective means for supporting louver blades against damage or displacement. The blade and brace of the invention are uniquely designed for simple and rapid attachment or detachment resulting in a minimum of expense in assembly and replacement.

Various changes falling within the scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. The louver structure is therefore not to be thought of as limited to the specific embodiment set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. A louver structure, comprising: a louver blade including a web portion having an out-turned flange extending lengthwise of said blade and forming a top longitudinal edge thereof; downwardly projecting means on said web portion defining with the inner surface of said web portion a downwardly opening groove; a brace having first and second angularly related leg portions, said first leg portion terminating in an upper end in an outwardly extending portion joined to a downwardly extending portion, which in turn, is joined to an inwardly extending portion being spaced from said outwardly extending portion to define a recess therebetween for releasably receiving said out-turned flange of said blade, said leg including a further recess opposing said inwardly extending portion, said second leg portion terminating in an outer end in an upwardly extending flange releasably receivable in said groove, whereby said out-turned flange of said blade may initially be received in said first-mentioned recess, said further recess accommodating a portion of said top longitudinal edge to permit downward pivoting movement of said blade such that said downwardly projecting means is caused to snap over said upwardly extending flange at the outer end of said second leg portion to receive said flange in said groove so that said blade is releasably retained in operative position by said brace.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, in which said downwardly projecting means on said web portion comprises a continuous rib running the length of said web portion.

3. The subject matter of claim 1, in which said downwardly projecting means on said web portion comprises a tab portion extending downwardly from said web portion for engagement by said outwardly extending flange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,797,452 7/ 1957 Vetere 52473 2,803,185 8/1957 Coleman 98-121 2,814,079 11/1957 Van Fleet et al 52473 2,881,484 4/1959 Hallock 52473 3,267,834 8/1966 Hockett 98-121 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Examiner.

M. A. ANTONAKAS, Assistant Examiner. 

